Return to Didcot

Our second Didcot Transport Rally took place on Sunday, a joint venture between the Trust and Didcot Railway Centre.

With more than 30 buses on display, 14 in use on free bus services, traction engines, vintage cars and steam at the railway centre, there was much for our visitors to enjoy.

As well as shuttling between the rally site and Didcot Parkway station, free vintage bus services ran on authentic former GWR Road Motors routes to Wantage, Blewbury, Wallingford and East Hendred. We recorded 2,409 passenger journey across all routes.

Thames Valley vehicles from the 'home' fleet included 446, our Bristol K6A; 152, 556, and D40, respectively the Tilling Stevens, Bristol LL6B and FLF6G currently on-loan to the Trust; and 748, Peter Pribik's Bristol KSW6B. There was a welcome star-appearance from 620, an ex. United Welsh Bristol LD6G which joined Thames Valley in 1969. This has been owned and cared for by Brockham Scouts since its retirement from Alder Valley in 1975. 620 is the only Bristol LD with a Thames Valley pedigree known to survive.

There was an exotic selection of visiting traction, including contrasting Bristol REs from Ulsterbus, Crosville and Eastern Counties, an AEC Regal from Oxford Bus Museum, a former Reading Mainline Routemaster, plus Bristol VRs from Southdown and Western National - and many more.

As ever, we're very grateful to the owners and crews of visiting vehicles, as well as our Supporters who worked hard on the day. Trust Supporter Jonathan Radley was responsible for the bus and coach element of the event and his tremendous organisational skills, plus months of hard work, ensured the event was a great success for our visitors. We are also grateful to the teams at Didcot Railway Centre for their help and support.

Meanwhile, some Supporters may still be there now, working out how to get our tent down...